Industry Updates Archives - Page 2 of 2

Riding Out The Storm

During a webinar on navigating the current pandemic crisis, our team watched a clip from the iconic movie Forrest Gump. If you’ve seen the movie, you certainly remember the scene: Lieutenant Dan is out in the middle of a hurricane, whooping and hollering right in the thick of the storm, while others are hunkered down on the shore.

When the storm finally cleared, all those who sat idle on the shore were dashed to bits. Forrest and Lieutenant Dan had survived by leaning into the storm and navigating the rough waters with courage.

The COVID-19 crisis is the storm of the century. We could have sat idle, waiting for the storm to pass. Instead, we leaned right in.

Early on in the pandemic, Gilson was labeled an essential service by several of our customers as a critical component in their supply chain. We have risen to the challenge and continue to evolve, adapt, and adjust while keeping our employees and their families safe and healthy. While challenges abound, we are encouraged by the positivity that surrounds us:

We are thankful for the flexibility of our employees. For those who have volunteered to continue to work on-site supporting the essential businesses for which we provide critical materials, as well as those who stay diligent in working from home while balancing closures in schools and child care centers and co-working with their spouses, kids, and pets.
We are thankful that we are able to continue to provide services for many of our customers who are providing necessary services for our society. We are producing critical information and materials related to preventing the spread of the virus in our communities. We were even able to assist with the manufacturing of critical safety components for use in the medical field this past week, with more opportunities to do so in the pipeline. The ingenuity of our customers never ceases to astound us, and we are thankful for that.
We are thankful for the advent of video conferencing, and for our fantastic IT department for keeping us up and running and ‘virtually’ face-to-face with each other and our customers.
We are thankful that our business has evolved over the years to include services that we can provide remotely, such as agency/design services and document composition. We are in a better position than ever to weather a storm of this nature, and we are thankful for the decisions we made years ago that have led us to this place.
We are thankful for the stable financial position of our company due to conservative fiscal policies over the years, and the security it affords us as we all face uncertain and difficult times ahead.
We are thankful for the ability to collaborate with our peers and colleagues, many of whom we are often ‘too busy’ to engage with on a strategic level. Having this time to think critically and generate new ideas in the face of adversity will undoubtedly lead to new opportunities once the clouds have parted and the waters have calmed.
We are thankful for the opportunity to take a fresh look at how we approach customer outreach, as trade shows and in-person events are no longer a viable option for connecting with industry peers. We’ve been able to have more specific and personal conversations with customers that we wouldn’t have had in a community environment.

As this unprecedented storm rages on, rest assured that Gilson will continue to batten down the hatches and ride the waves right alongside our customers.

We’re all in the same boat, and we could not be more thankful for that.

For more on Gilson’s response to the global health crisis, please visit: gilsongraphics.com/covid-19-prevention

COVID-19 Prevention

Industry Updates

Updated: March 23, 2020 at 1:21pm

Gilson’s top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, our customers, and the consumers they serve. Based on the recommendations of the U.S. Homeland Security we have been informed by our Military, Food, Medical and Pharmaceutical clients that we are an “Essential Supplier” and must remain in operation now that the Governor’s office has issued a ‘shelter-in-place’ directive in the state of Michigan. As such, we will remain in operation with a team of employees who choose to work and make it possible for our customers to maintain continuity of service.

We have taken all CDC guidelines into consideration for equipment and facilities cleaning, health practices, and social distancing. We will safely continue our operations as part of our responsibility to support all of our customers – and particularly the industries noted above – so that they can continue to serve the American people during this time of crisis.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and check back often for updates and new information as it becomes available.

Updated: March 16, 2020 at 11:10am

As a partner in your success, we want you to be aware of the preventative steps we are taking to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your supply chain.

Gilson has been closely monitoring CDC information and recommendations on the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, as members of the Michigan Manufacturer’s Association, we have received in-depth information regarding methods to responsibly address the spread of the virus.

From those recommendations, we are encouraging all employees who can work remotely to do so. We are asking that our sales team only make in person calls to customers when it’s absolutely necessary. All travel outside of the area is on hold. Additionally, we are closing the facility to any non-Gilson employees. Vendors, visitors and customers are prohibited from coming to our facility during this time.

We have also implemented the following facility-wide procedures to protect our employees and the product leaving our doors:

Provide clear instructions to our department managers regarding employee sickness, including:
- Require sick employees to stay home.
- Send home any employee who appears to have symptoms identified by the CDC as related to COVID-19 virus.
- Require employees who are well but have a family member with COVID-19 to notify our HR department.
Require personal protective CDC hygiene recommendations, such as hand washing or the use of hand sanitizer when soap and water are not readily available.
Perform routine environmental cleaning. All areas, including both Production and Administration, must be properly cleaned each shift. A complete cleaning of all surfaces between each job shall be conducted in our Packaging and Kit Building area.
Encourage all employees who can work remotely to do so.
Voluntary quarantine may be necessary, but is not currently required.

Gilson is committed to protecting our employees, their families, as well as our customers during this challenging time. Please feel free to contact your Gilson Representative with any further questions or concerns.

For more information from the Center for Disease Control, please visit their regularly updated page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

How to Combat the Rising Cost of Paper

Industry Updates

Everyone wants to get a great deal on paper and printing materials. With so many fun and exciting new print technologies, the need for custom signage, banners, and graphics is greater than ever. But the rising cost of paper and shipping can put a dent in your marketing plans. Don’t panic! There are plenty of ways to combat the rising cost of paper. Here’s some info to arm you to make the right decisions.

Combating the Rising Cost of Paper

Paper mills are closing and the cost of materials has risen over the past several years (Printwell, 2018). Another reason for the increase is the rising cost of pulp. Here’s a recent set of statistics featured in a blog post by Smith Corona.

“Beginning in February 2017, pulp prices began to increase steadily. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Producer Price Index for pulp, paper, and allied products has risen from 167.4 in February of 2017 to 212.4 in March of 2018. This increase of over 25% is not expected to slow down” (Smith Corona, 2018).

The cost of paper might be rising, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get great deals on your print projects. Gilson works with you to get the best substrates for the job. Don’t overthink bringing that next big project together with custom signage, large format graphics, or custom trade show materials–take the leap and let us do the heavy lifting! We’ll help you combat the cost of paper with insightful info on choosing the right tools, materials, and substrates for your project.

Saving Big on Shipping

Not only is the cost of paper rising, but the cost of shipping is climbing, too. A current truck driving crisis has hit the US and companies are experiencing higher shipping costs due to a lack of drivers.

Why is this happening? Here’s some info from a recent Forbes post.

“The trucker shortage is being driven by unemployment rates being down, which has created a positive consumer outlook and people buying more goods.” (Forbes, 2018). With people buying more goods, ordering more product, and driving the need for shipments, it’s been a challenge for companies to keep up with the growing demand.

This change in shipping availability can have an effect on delivery times and cost. That’s precious time and money that Gilson can help you save with our shipping and fulfillment services. Our experienced and efficient team customizes fulfillment and shipping programs for a variety of business and products. We can bring that same expertise and service to your projects no matter the size or scope.

Get in Touch and Save Your Budget

Combat the cost of paper and shipping by talking to a Gilson sales rep and finding out how to best reach your goals and stay within budget. Our number one mission is to help our customers succeed. Don’t be afraid to pick up that phone, send an email, or visit us to learn more about creating, producing, and delivering that next big project. Contact us today and get the inside scoop on how to best tackle your next big project. We’re dedicated to helping you create, produce, and deliver whatever you have in store.

Gilson Gets an Upgrade — VUTEk HS125 Pro from EFI

Industry Updates, Updates

Gilson Graphics is excited to announce that we’ve added a new large format printer to our ranks. EFI’s VUTEk HS125 Pro has just been installed in our facilities and we’re eager to put it to work for our clients and customers. Adding this machine to our facilities means more output, more large format opportunities, and more ambitious projects for you and your business.

Discover just what the VUTEk HS125 Pro is capable of and how it can help take your business and marketing to new heights with some info in this blog post. We’ll cover what large format printing is, what the VUTEk HS125 Pro can do, and how it will upgrade your experience when you choose Gilson.